Mustangs, Lady Mustangs take 21 of 24 events

With 21 wins in 24 events, Coronado had the gold medals flowing freely on Friday in the District 2-5A swimming and diving meet at Pete Ragus Aquatic Center.

Quite a few winners were pre-race favorites who did as expected. For some, though, an individual district title was a first-time experience that brought a palpable excitement.

“It’s the greatest thing ever,” said Coronado senior Katelyn Wolcott, a surprise winner in the girls 100-yard butterfly. “This is my last district meet, and to have a medal in an individual (event), this is the first time I’ve ever done it. I’ve never medaled. I’ve never even gotten sixth place. Now I got first. I dropped two seconds off my (personal best) time.”

Wolcott won by four one-hundredths of a second, touching the wall in 1 minute, 9.02 seconds, two seconds better than her previous personal record. Because of injuries, Wolcott said she hadn’t swum in a meet since October and returned to training just this week.

Winning seemed a little much to ask.

“Totally unexpected,” she said. “I haven’t been able to kick in a month and a half. I injured my knee and my back is injured, and since it’s cold, everything hurts. I didn’t expect to go my best time at all.”

The top six in each event will return to the Pete Ragus Aquatic Center next weekend for Region I-5A competition.

Adams was one of the most grateful. A senior, she’d spent her career fighting an uphill battle against Lubbock High star Madisyn Cox. Realignment dropped Lubbock High into District 4-4A this year, and Adams seized the opportunity, winning the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke.

Even better, Adams and her sisters Amy and Mallory swept the top three spots in the latter.

“It’s just overwhelming, because it’s all happening at once,” Kaylyn Adams said. “Once I (won) the first one, I was like, ‘All right.’ That gave me momentum for the second one. It’s just so exciting.”

Adams had finished fourth three years in a row in the 200 IM. In the 100 breaststroke, she’d taken bronze and then silver the last two years, chasing Cox in both events.

“She’s my best friend. I love swimming with her,” Adams said. “I totally look up to her, and she’s made me the swimmer I am. She’s made me want to go out there and work hard and do the best.”

Diver Ty Sides went to state last year, but the Lady Mustangs’ junior won her first district title Friday with 408.70 points. It was a strange competition, though. Realignment made 2-5A only a four-team district for swimming, and the other three schools — Abilene, Abilene Cooper and Tascosa — didn’t have any diving entries.

So Sides competed against three teammates.

“We were all kind of standing around thinking, ‘This just feels like a practice. It doesn’t really feel like a meet,’” Sides said.

Nevertheless, she said she did better than expected by breaking 400. And at practice, you don’t get a gold.

“It means a lot,” Sides said. “I’m really excited.”

On the boys’ side, Wood successfully defended his individual titles in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles and also swam legs on the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Wood said his 100 freestyle time of 48.83 was his best by far, and his 22.00 in the 50 freestyle also was a personal record.

“I really feel good about it,” he said. “I think with the whole team, we all did amazing. Everyone did what they needed to and it all came together. Each person had a big part in the win, and I’m really confident about regionals, too.”